With a 15-5 record in their previous 20 games, New Orleans is peaking just in time for the postseason.
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 126-107 on Saturday night to complete a flawless weekend homestand. With their 41st win of the year, New Orleans ensured themselves a second consecutive winning season. The Pelicans finished the previous season 42-40, and they didn’t reach 41 wins until April 5.
With little to no help from the Trail Blazers defense, Zion Williamson dominated the first half of the game.
Not every Pelican had gotten off to a fast start like Williamson. In the first quarter of a high-scoring game, Trey Murphy III, who started in place of the injured Herb Jones, scored ten points. Despite New Orleans’ 40 points, the Blazers scored 35 points thanks to a flawless opening frame from Deandre Ayton, who finished with 10 points on 5/5 shooting from the field. During the first quarter, both teams made over 60% of their field goals.
2nd and 3rd Quarter saw both teams going end to end
In the second quarter, neither team was able to slow down the other’s offensive production as they both kept up their blazing shooting. Williamson began the half with 8/8 from the field to score a team-high 18 points.
The Pels forced twice as many turnovers from the Blazers, and they scored 31 points off of those 20 turnovers. In the win, CJ McCollum scored a game-high thirty points, presumably emerging from his shooting slump. In the triumph, Williamson ended with 26 points. With the win, the Pels are now just 1.5 games away of the fourth seed, putting them in proximity to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Pelicans will now play four games in a row away from home, two of which will be in Florida against teams vying for postseason spots. Tuesday’s away game against the Nets is scheduled to begin in Brooklyn. In the NBA, New Orleans has the second-most road victories.